Should prostitution be legalized in the United States?

Yes. It happens whether it is illegal or not, and there isn't anything wrong with it. Making it legal and regulated makes it safer for everyone.

 

Yes. Why not?

Besides, I figure it's already partly legalized. Think of all the marriages that basically boil down to no real love, and the bond is his checking account, and her attractive body. It's funny: a 20 year old blond working as a hooker is sleazy. The same blond married to an older, well off man is living a fairytale romance.

Finally, on a more personal level, it's entirely possible that legalized prostitution might be the only chance I ever get for sex with another person...

 

Only in certain parts of Nevada (?).and I agree with what you say about the blond. It really is a double standard.

 

When I say "partly legalized," I refer to the type of marriage I described above. Technically, that is legal, but if one considers that marriage a form of prostitution, and then considers prostitution as a whole, one arrives at my line about "partly legalized."

Yes, Nevada has partly legalized regular prostitution:
Prostitution in Nevada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

This should probably go in the Chit Chat section, but yes, it should be legal. It involves two consenting adults. Keep it in licensed establishments. Tax it and regulate it.

 

Pretty much this. I reckon Germany(?) did something along those lines with some areas allowing for prostitutes (So as to not have prostitutes at every corner of the streets), and they had to purchase a permit every year for 200€ I think? Been a while since I read about this, not too keen on the details.

 

crimes in general happen whether they are legal or not.

but just so you know, prostituion is not a victimless crime. most prostitutes are either in abusive relationships, have drug problems, or were victims of human sex traffcing; some are all three. alot of them get pulled into it at very young age, just as their bodies are sexually maturing, and are made to feel they have no other choice.

it is not as simply as regulating it, cause that doesnt mean you actually can.

 

I agree. Amsterdam is famous for its tolerance, red light districts and legalization of prostitution (and marijuana), but the legal status of prostitution has attracted the attention of organized crime all over the globe, and many women working as prostitutes are victims of sex trafficking rather than willing participants in the trade.

NYT Article. Somebody was quoted in the article as saying,

As a trade that's been going on since long before even the Romans' heyday, it's simply not going to go away, and it's always going to be tied to organized crime because of the money that can be made from dealings in human lives.

 

Yes, because doing so would make sex workers a lot safer, and that's extremely important.

 

Yes, but we should watch for the many women who were sold into prostitution against their will, because they could be dismissed if it were legal.

 

This is one of the big reasons why it should happen! There really is nothing had about sex. It's not like drugs, which really will mess you up. Sex is sex. If it's made legal to be a prostitute, the workers would be so much safer! They'd be able to be regulated and it wouldn't be so damn taboo.

 

I think it should be legalized, but done carefully.

As for Amsterdam, I'd say its very clear that potentially any business can become criminal and violate human rights. (At least clear to anyone that pays attention to history.) It all depends on the laws and how well they are enforced. And this is especially true for things like prostitution. If there is anything that needs strict regulations and ones that are enforced, its something like this. I believe they made some reforms a few months back, but truthfully I don't think its enough. The business right now is just still too intertwined with criminal activity, and until its really cracked down on with strict regulations its going to continue to be. Sadly I don't really know anything about politics in the Netherlands or what sort of regulations they have for businesses there, so I don't feel informed enough to really speak further.

 

Legal prostitution is already here and it's called pornography. I think it should be legalized, but also monitored. I also think any victimless crime should be legal, although, that's just me.

 

I think so. Nobody gets hurt if done responsibly (with protection, that is), and the laws regarding it are so ridiculous anybody could set up a scheme to get away with it with minimal effort. A lot of prostitution is tied to other illegal businesses, so maybe legitimization of the practice would do us a lot of good.

 

That's a separate problem. That isn't going to magically go away if prostitution is illegal - all that would do is make it worse for these people because they have to be hidden, which drives them into unsafe (or, unsafer) situations. As I said, it's going to happen regardless of it's legal status, so we should make it as safe as possible.

 

its not a seperate problem: it is the reality of prostitution itself.

You are not going to find alot of people who wake up one day and say "I want to be a prostitute." the majority of prostitutes do so because of prior mitigating factors, from sexual abuse, drug abuse, homelesness, and being victimized or trafficked.

The reality is that legalization of prostitution actually tends to increase the sexual explotation and trafficing of children, especially young girls. when the criminal consequences of it are removed, it only emboldens those who practice human trafficking.

The issue is that when you decriminalize it, historically, it doesnt actually protect the prostitutes, or makes them safer. it really cant truly be regulated. people will ignore the regulations, just as they already ignore the laws. some might get liscenced and tested, but places that have legalized it do not actually see the improvements to public health that are promised by legalizing it.

people that try to tax it dont see the reveunes, because people instead, to protect their anonymity, go to the unlicensed prostitutes to prevent from having to pay the taxes.

and sex crimes related to prostitution still run rampent.

The interesting thing is that when you read the research, the ones who are for legalization never speak indepth, and stick to general terms, and narrow interpretations. the people against it actually speak on a broad swath of the issues involved with prostitution, and use actual studies, instead of simply doing with the pro-legalization people do, and use buzz phrases like 'freedom', and other things meant to pull your heart strings, but not get your mind working.

its not going to go away, but making it legal has not proven to achieve any of the successes that were promised.

 

Yes, of course it should be legal, duh. What consenting adults choose to do to each other sexually is no business of the State, period. Really, trying to even pretend you can stop it is just silly, it's the oldest profession there is.

If a guy takes a girl out to a fancy dinner in order to get her to sleep with him, that's perfectly legal. But if a guy just gives the girl the money he was going to spend on dinner in order to get her to sleep with him, that suddenly crosses some imaginary line into illegality. It really isn't logical. Unsafe sexual practices are unsafe sexual practices, but the exchanging of money for sex really shouldn't be seen as the core problem.

 

Yes, because theoretically nobody is harmed by it, and, well, that quote: "Why should something be illegal to sell that is perfectly legal to give away?" Legalising it opens the door for regulation -- and taxation -- which is better for everyone.